Sheridan sat down on the couch and stroked Gwen's hair. "I left you some of the breakfast Luis cooked in the kitchen."

Gwen tugged the blanket covering her more snugly around her and looked up at Sheridan. "Thank you for letting me stay here last night. I just couldn't deal with being alone."

Sheridan smiled softly. "You can stay here as long as you like, Gwen."

Gwen cracked a smile. "I don't know how much Luis will appreciate that."

Sheridan chuckled and tucked Gwen's hair behind her ear. "Well, if he doesn't, he's outnumbered on this. Besides, you were so helpful with all of the packing we were doing—he's not going to want to lose out on that."

Gwen fingered one of the boxes next to the couch. "I can't believe you two are about to move into your first real home together." Gwen's eyes rose up to meet Sheridan's. "I always thought I'd have done that by now . . ."

Sheridan smiled sadly. "I know you did, sweetie. This past year has really been a hard one for you."

Gwen blinked back tears. "I just feel so alone. I mean . . . I can't believe how much I miss him, Sheridan—a few months ago, I would barely give him the time of day."

Sheridan laughed softly. "Well, Hank certainly can be persistent when he wants to be."

"Yes, he can be." Gwen smiled sadly. "But he's also the best friend I've ever had."

Sheridan stroked Gwen's hair. "It sounds like you really fell for him, sweetie."

"That's the craziest part about this whole thing," Gwen whispered. "Part of me didn't even know that I had."


"How on earth did you get someone to cover my shift today?" Eve asked, smiling as she glanced around the Crane archives.

"Easy," Julian smiled, coming up behind her and rubbing her arms. "I just used my pull as a hospital board member and offered to temporarily triple the pay of any doctor who would step up to cover for you over the Thanksgiving weekend."

"I can't believe you did that, Julian," Eve laughed.

"I'd do anything for you, Eve."

Eve turned around. "You really would, wouldn't you?"

Julian smiled and stroked her cheek. "I'd be a fool not to, Eve. After all of these years, I've finally been granted a second chance with you—I'm not going to squander it."

"I can't believe we're actually doing something solid and tangible to search for our son." Eve's smile grew. "That something in this room might lead us to your mother, to all of the secrets your father's been hiding."

"From your lips to God's ears . . ."

"Do you really think we're going to find something?" Eve asked. "After all, your father is capable of doing—or concealing—practically anything. What if he stored the information we're looking for somewhere far away?"

"Certainly that's possible," Julian responded. "But I have a good feeling about this place."

"I don't know why—" Eve glanced around the room "—but for some reason, I do, too."

Julian laced his fingers through hers. "Eve, this time around, my father is facing a different dynamic—this time, we're working together."

"You're right, Julian." Her eyes glistening, Eve smiled and squeezed his hand. "This time, we are."